Immune Response to Virus-Related Malignancies

Dear Colleagues,

Approximately 15% of human cancers are caused by infection, mainly viruses. Known human oncogenic viruses are human papillomaviruses (HPV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) (also called human herpesvirus 8), human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV-1), and Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). These viruses establish chronic infection and induce carcinogenesis through various mechanisms that have not been fully understood, including the contribution to immune escape. Innate and adaptive immune systems play a significant role in infection, cancer development, and responses against viral-drive tumors. In this Special Issue, we aim to discuss research advances elucidating the immune response against oncogenic viruses that are involved in the escape mechanism, as well as novel therapeutics against oncogenic viral infection in their associated cancer. The tumor microenvironment in different types of virus-related cancer is also an interesting topic to discuss. Immune infiltration in the tumor microenvironment allegedly correlates with better survival, but the study on virus-positive samples is limited. The expression of virus-associated tumor antigens is important in the development of vaccine and immunotherapy. Viral infection may also recruit immune effector cells and upregulate PD-1 and CTLA-4 immunosuppressive pathways.

Dr. Dewi Kartikawati Paramita
Guest Editor

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